About an hour ago I passed a mendicant who bangs his head for a living (On the pedestrian bridge outside the Taipei Main Station). It really bothers me that social workers do nothing to help him and others I have seen. Is here something I don’t understand about it all?
It bothers me that I have no idea what a mendicant is. It also bothers me that those poor disabled guys are on the streets. I agree, there should be some kind of social aid for sure.
I think the local da-ge would quickly step in if some nosey social worker tried to take away one of his employees. They’re nice little earners if you get a whole bunch of them. All you need is a van to drop them off at their pitches in the morning and pick them up at night.
Most Taiwanese that I have asked believe that this is exactly what is happening.
What is a “da-ge”?
“Big brother”, aka small-time local gangster. Don’t mess with them.
Actually, I’ve been told more than once that some of these owners of “cripple stables” actually … um … create fresh cripple supplies when pickings are slim, but I think this is an urban legand.
Is there a reason some beggars keep on banging their heads against the pavement? I think it might be a way of gaining sympahy, or is there some other reason?
Maybe it feels good when they stop.
That is what I heard too. Anyway you sure have to wonder how these people lost limbs and wound up kissing the pavement for money. If somebody is dropping these guys off, picking them up, and taking the bulk of their earnings you sure have to wonder what in fuck is going on.
That is what I heard too. Anyway you sure have to wonder how these people lost limbs and wound up kissing the pavement for money. If somebody is dropping these guys off, picking them up, and taking the bulk of their earnings you sure have to wonder what in fuck is going on.[/quote]
I used to have the pleasure of riding the bus home late at night with a huge, and I mean HUGE, retarded guy who sold gum at Taipei Main Station…he got off the bus and headed right into a temple in Hsin Chuang…where I assume he lived (I saw him there in the daytime too, eating bian dang…)
Temple
Retarded guy selling gum for 20NT/pack
gangsters involved in temples?
You betcha
You think these bastards would mind stomping someone’s throat who didn’t want to come join their stable of beggars?
Puuh-lease
Actually some of these beggars may be folks who couldn’t pay off a loanshark…
Since when has money not been the reason :loco: :loco: :loco:
[quote=“jdsmith”]
Temple
Retarded guy selling gum for 20NT/pack
gangsters involved in temples?
You betcha
You think these bastards would mind stomping someone’s throat who didn’t want to come join their stable of beggars?
Puuh-lease
Actually some of these beggars may be folks who couldn’t pay off a loanshark…[/quote]
We prefer to be called “downsyndromed” thank you very much.
[quote=“Steeevieboy”]We prefer to be called “downsyndromed” thank you very much.[/quote]Mentally alternative.
The one outside of taipei main station bothers me. When I first got here I got so angry that no one helped him. But I guess I can’t get angry about it when I am not doing anything myself.
I have also heard that many of the missing limb guys had their limbs removed because they owed money. And then have to do this shit until they pay it off. But then there are the people who you know were always like that. The man (also near Taipei Main Station) who seems to be missing half his face is like that. I know he didn’t get his face done up by a gangster. It is an obvious birth defect.
I, for one, really do believe about the gangsters cutting off limbs.
[quote=“SuchAFob”]The one outside of Taipei main station bothers me. When I first got here I got so angry that no one helped him. But I guess I can’t get angry about it when I am not doing anything myself.
I have also heard that many of the missing limb guys had their limbs removed because they owed money. And then have to do this shit until they pay it off. But then there are the people who you know were always like that. The man (also near Taipei Main Station) who seems to be missing half his face is like that. I know he didn’t get his face done up by a gangster. It is an obvious birth defect.
I, for one, really do believe about the gangsters cutting off limbs.[/quote]
Okay, I admit it…I’m a sucker. I always throw loose change into the kitty whenever I see someone “in need”. I’m just hoping, perhaps, that I can buy my way to Heaven. :s 
[quote=“Steeevieboy”]
We prefer to be called “downsyndromed” thank you very much.[/quote]
If he had been a Downs syndromed guy I would have said so…
They are kowtowing. When I first went to Hong Kong (1979), you used to see the same thing there. Hong Kong has since developed beyond that stage.
kow
[quote=“SuchAFob”]
Okay… I somewhat have a hard time believing that this is what this the OP is referring to is doing. His is a hypnotic repetivive bouncing type. Up down, up down, up down…
Then again. I be ignant of this sort of thang.[/quote]
It’s just the Asian version of rattling change in the cup.
Hmmm. Remind me, if I ever become a mendicant, to take myself over to England or some othr cup rattling country and NOT DO IT HERE!